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Inspector Celcius Daly #1
Disappeared
In Northern Ireland’s darkest corner, the Troubles have never ended Though bombs no longer rock Belfast, for some the fight goes on. Retired Special Branch agent David Hughes disappears after looking into the previously closed case of Oliver Jordan, who went missing at the hands of the IRA decades ago. Soon after, a former spy is found bludgeoned to death, the day after placing his own obituary in the newspaper. Beneath Northern Ireland’s modern calm, ancient jealousies threaten to rend the country asunder once more. A Catholic detective in a Protestant nation, Celcius Daly knows too well the agonies of sectarian strife. To solve this string of murders, he must reach decades into the past, confronting a painful history that Ireland would prefer to forget.
Disappeared is the 1st book in the Inspector Celcius Daly Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Disappeared is the 1st book in the Inspector Celcius Daly Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
252 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2012
40 people are currently reading
556 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Quinn
10 books28 followersAnthony Quinn (b. 1971) is an Irish author and journalist. Born in Northern Ireland’s County Tyrone, Quinn majored in English at Queen’s University, Belfast. After college, he worked a number of jobs—social worker, organic gardener, yoga teacher—before finding work as a journalist.
His first novel DISAPPEARED was published by Otto Penzler's Mysterious Press in 2012, and was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award, as judged by book critics from the LA Times, the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN and the Guardian. It was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the top ten thrillers of 2012.
BORDER ANGELS, the sequel, also features Inspector Celcius Daly and was published by Mysterious Press in 2013.
He has written short stories for years, winning critical acclaim and, twice, a place on the short list for the Hennessy Literary Awards for New Irish Writing. He also placed as runner-up in a Sunday Times food writing competition. He is represented by Paul Feldstein of the Feldstein Agency.
His first novel DISAPPEARED was published by Otto Penzler's Mysterious Press in 2012, and was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award, as judged by book critics from the LA Times, the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN and the Guardian. It was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the top ten thrillers of 2012.
BORDER ANGELS, the sequel, also features Inspector Celcius Daly and was published by Mysterious Press in 2013.
He has written short stories for years, winning critical acclaim and, twice, a place on the short list for the Hennessy Literary Awards for New Irish Writing. He also placed as runner-up in a Sunday Times food writing competition. He is represented by Paul Feldstein of the Feldstein Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 31, 2018
“Disappeared (Inspector Celcius Daly Mystery #1)” by Anthony J. Quinn is Irish author and journalist Quinn's first novel. Published in the US in 2011, 2013 saw its first publication in the UK. Quinn was born in Northern Ireland's County Tyrone and claims that family events during the ‘Troubles’ – that feeling of "walking a tightrope with the IRA at one end and the British Army and Protestant paramilitaries on the other" - alongside interviews with the families of Ireland's "Disappeared" (those murdered by paramilitaries and whose bodies have never been found) inspired him to write this book.
Police Inspector Celcius Daly is in Northern Ireland after living some years in Glasgow. Having left a broken marriage behind, he is staying in his dead father's cottage near Lough Neagh when he is handed two investigations. First there is the disappearance of David Hughes, a retired Special Branch officer suffering from Alzheimer's, and also a case where the brutal death of Joseph Devine, a one-time spy for the British. Celcius is also drawn into the mystery of another man's disappearance some twenty years before. Supposedly killed by the IRA, this man's body was never found. He had become one of Ireland's "Disappeared" with that stigma and unresolved grief still marking his family.
The Troubles was an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, It is sometimes described as a ‘guerrilla war’ or a ‘low-level war’. The conflict began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to have ended with the ‘Good Friday Agreement of 1998’.
This is a complex, but very intriguing story. Although the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland have more or less finished as of today, there is still a lot of resentment between Protestants and Catholics alike and a lot of scores need to be settled between the two sides in the struggle. Detective Inspector Celcius Daly has trouble getting answers to the questions that he needs answered, in order to discover the identity of the murderer.
The book has the terrific atmosphere of a Gothic horror story which it well may be. It is set in a rural landscape of wintry thorn hedges, fields and crumbling cottages - a rural landscape now inhabited by the elderly and their secrets. The disappeared of the present mingle with the disappeared of the past in a story of informers, handlers, executioners and extortionists.
The book I read does not match the description of the book given in the above GR description.
Police Inspector Celcius Daly is in Northern Ireland after living some years in Glasgow. Having left a broken marriage behind, he is staying in his dead father's cottage near Lough Neagh when he is handed two investigations. First there is the disappearance of David Hughes, a retired Special Branch officer suffering from Alzheimer's, and also a case where the brutal death of Joseph Devine, a one-time spy for the British. Celcius is also drawn into the mystery of another man's disappearance some twenty years before. Supposedly killed by the IRA, this man's body was never found. He had become one of Ireland's "Disappeared" with that stigma and unresolved grief still marking his family.
The Troubles was an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, It is sometimes described as a ‘guerrilla war’ or a ‘low-level war’. The conflict began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to have ended with the ‘Good Friday Agreement of 1998’.
This is a complex, but very intriguing story. Although the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland have more or less finished as of today, there is still a lot of resentment between Protestants and Catholics alike and a lot of scores need to be settled between the two sides in the struggle. Detective Inspector Celcius Daly has trouble getting answers to the questions that he needs answered, in order to discover the identity of the murderer.
The book has the terrific atmosphere of a Gothic horror story which it well may be. It is set in a rural landscape of wintry thorn hedges, fields and crumbling cottages - a rural landscape now inhabited by the elderly and their secrets. The disappeared of the present mingle with the disappeared of the past in a story of informers, handlers, executioners and extortionists.
The book I read does not match the description of the book given in the above GR description.
August 9, 2014
Disappeared, Brilliant Inspection of Recent Irish History
On the cover of Disappeared by Anthony Quinn there is a quote from Strand Magazine that calls the book; ‘One of the best books of the year’ my first instinct was yeah right but now I think it is an understatement. This book which is well written, the prose is crisp the imagery strong and it evokes a strong dollop of tension. For a debut novel Disappeared has raised the bar and is an excellent example of Irish writing which ticks many boxes whether that be literary, historical or crime fiction as it could sit in all those genres and stand on its own feet.
We are introduced to Catholic Police detective inspector Celcius Daly a recently returned from his career in Scotland where he had taken his career to get away from the Northern Ireland of his birth and more importantly from the border area of County Tyrone. As a child he had seen his mother killed in the ‘crossfire’ between the republicans and the British.
We are introduced to this recently separated detective when he is called out to find a missing person, a man with the early onset of dementia. Later he was called out to an island in the middle of Lough Neagh to a dead body. The dead body has all the hallmarks of being executed by former republican paramilitaries for being a spy in their midst.
As Daly tries to investigate the death and the missing person case, he comes across a wall of silence and betrayal from his colleagues in Special Branch who seem to know more than they are saying, while meeting another wall of silence with the republicans. Daly is advised to leave the past where it is and not to stir up memories of the troubled times.
When he comes in to contact with the troubled Dermot Jordon who is the son of one of the disappeared do things really take a turn. Dermot wants to know where his father is buried and hunts down those who may know. He does not realise the danger that he places himself in especially as there is a killer hunting both him and his new friend David Hughes the dementia ridden former Special Branch Officer.
The dementia that Hughes suffers could be said to be a metaphor for a lot of what is happening in the new Northern Ireland where the secrets of the troubles really need to stay hidden. Hidden to protect those on both sides who committed the crimes; and now lead the country or protect it, while it is the innocent that suffer.
There are many in Ireland that could recognise this story of their own, especially those that lived through those troubled times and Disappeared seems to give a voice to those people. Quinn has written one of THE books of the year giving a voice to those who have none. This book speaks to us and tells us that however much we may want to run from history the past never dies and the truth will always out.
Anthony Quinn has written a beautiful book that is a pleasure to read, easy to sympathise with Daly’s trials and tribulations. This book helps to bring Irish History to a wider readership it does not preach, but it has bags of tension all the way through. This really is a fantastic read.
On the cover of Disappeared by Anthony Quinn there is a quote from Strand Magazine that calls the book; ‘One of the best books of the year’ my first instinct was yeah right but now I think it is an understatement. This book which is well written, the prose is crisp the imagery strong and it evokes a strong dollop of tension. For a debut novel Disappeared has raised the bar and is an excellent example of Irish writing which ticks many boxes whether that be literary, historical or crime fiction as it could sit in all those genres and stand on its own feet.
We are introduced to Catholic Police detective inspector Celcius Daly a recently returned from his career in Scotland where he had taken his career to get away from the Northern Ireland of his birth and more importantly from the border area of County Tyrone. As a child he had seen his mother killed in the ‘crossfire’ between the republicans and the British.
We are introduced to this recently separated detective when he is called out to find a missing person, a man with the early onset of dementia. Later he was called out to an island in the middle of Lough Neagh to a dead body. The dead body has all the hallmarks of being executed by former republican paramilitaries for being a spy in their midst.
As Daly tries to investigate the death and the missing person case, he comes across a wall of silence and betrayal from his colleagues in Special Branch who seem to know more than they are saying, while meeting another wall of silence with the republicans. Daly is advised to leave the past where it is and not to stir up memories of the troubled times.
When he comes in to contact with the troubled Dermot Jordon who is the son of one of the disappeared do things really take a turn. Dermot wants to know where his father is buried and hunts down those who may know. He does not realise the danger that he places himself in especially as there is a killer hunting both him and his new friend David Hughes the dementia ridden former Special Branch Officer.
The dementia that Hughes suffers could be said to be a metaphor for a lot of what is happening in the new Northern Ireland where the secrets of the troubles really need to stay hidden. Hidden to protect those on both sides who committed the crimes; and now lead the country or protect it, while it is the innocent that suffer.
There are many in Ireland that could recognise this story of their own, especially those that lived through those troubled times and Disappeared seems to give a voice to those people. Quinn has written one of THE books of the year giving a voice to those who have none. This book speaks to us and tells us that however much we may want to run from history the past never dies and the truth will always out.
Anthony Quinn has written a beautiful book that is a pleasure to read, easy to sympathise with Daly’s trials and tribulations. This book helps to bring Irish History to a wider readership it does not preach, but it has bags of tension all the way through. This really is a fantastic read.
November 26, 2014
When the blurb says "In Northern Ireland's darkest corner" it means it. It's winter, it's wet, dark, cold and black. A landscape full of old houses, swamps and fast running streams, there's an overwhelming sense of dark, deep, close-held, life-long, simmering secrets in the world that Inspector Celcius Daly now lives.
A Catholic Irishman, he's returned to his father's house after a stint in Scotland. His father's recent death, his own marriage breakdown - it's exactly what you'd expect of somebody living in this place, although Daly's a bit of a dark horse himself. He's also stubborn and a decent man who does not easily let go of a case when he believes something is wrong.
There is something very apt about the setting for DISAPPEARED. For a non-Irish reader it feels so right that this dark and slightly obsessive cop would be exiled to this place, full of people with the same personality traits. There's also something very apt about the intertwining of generations of families with the IRA, Special Branch, and a whole heap of secrets.
Everything about the setting, the scenario and the characters felt spot on when reading DISAPPEARED. Even the character of David Hughes, in the early stages of dementia, still with enough awareness of his own situation to know what's happening, know what he knows and more importantly, be able to identify the things he should know but can no longer recall. The dogged way that Daly pursues his investigation, despite the blatant interference of Special Branch matches the dogged manner in which Hughes sets out to right some wrongs, and the way that Oliver Jordan's young son pursues his own aims. The other element of this book that feels exactly right is the way that the Troubles inflicted damage on these generations of families, on the communities they live in, and even on the place itself.
Everything about DISAPPEARED worked. It's dark and uncomfortable reading at times, and for something that travels through as much human misery and cruelty as it does, it moves with a gentleness, a respect for the experiences of all the characters.
By way of confession - this book has been sitting on my to be read list for way too long. On the upside, DISAPPEARED has now been followed by BORDER ANGELS which was released this year and is now on the same list - marked with a much heavier handed reminder.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
A Catholic Irishman, he's returned to his father's house after a stint in Scotland. His father's recent death, his own marriage breakdown - it's exactly what you'd expect of somebody living in this place, although Daly's a bit of a dark horse himself. He's also stubborn and a decent man who does not easily let go of a case when he believes something is wrong.
There is something very apt about the setting for DISAPPEARED. For a non-Irish reader it feels so right that this dark and slightly obsessive cop would be exiled to this place, full of people with the same personality traits. There's also something very apt about the intertwining of generations of families with the IRA, Special Branch, and a whole heap of secrets.
Everything about the setting, the scenario and the characters felt spot on when reading DISAPPEARED. Even the character of David Hughes, in the early stages of dementia, still with enough awareness of his own situation to know what's happening, know what he knows and more importantly, be able to identify the things he should know but can no longer recall. The dogged way that Daly pursues his investigation, despite the blatant interference of Special Branch matches the dogged manner in which Hughes sets out to right some wrongs, and the way that Oliver Jordan's young son pursues his own aims. The other element of this book that feels exactly right is the way that the Troubles inflicted damage on these generations of families, on the communities they live in, and even on the place itself.
Everything about DISAPPEARED worked. It's dark and uncomfortable reading at times, and for something that travels through as much human misery and cruelty as it does, it moves with a gentleness, a respect for the experiences of all the characters.
By way of confession - this book has been sitting on my to be read list for way too long. On the upside, DISAPPEARED has now been followed by BORDER ANGELS which was released this year and is now on the same list - marked with a much heavier handed reminder.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
May 25, 2015
Set in a post Troubles Northern Ireland, this was a dark and atmospheric read. I was impressed with the writing, which was very descriptive but not overly so, and how the plot dealt with complex issues without getting bogged down.
September 3, 2012
For more than three decades Northern Ireland was a hotbed of sectarian violence, religious divisions and a breeding ground for terror in which everyone knew who their enemy was. This all changed with the ceasefire, however, plunging the country into an uneasy, and for many, restless calm. Former terrorists became politicians, informants were quietly maneuvered into hiding and the confession boxes of the country's churches had never been busier as many previously self-appointed soldiers and activists flocked to be absolved of their sins.
It against this backdrop of a post-Troubles Northern Ireland that Disappeared, the debut novel by author Anthony Quinn is set. When Inspector Celcius Daly is called to investigate the horrific murder of Joseph Devine, a former informer found tied up, burned and mutilated on a small island following a tip off to his priest, he makes a connection between this crime and the disappearance of a Special Branch detective and realises that the two incidents could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Warned away from digging too deeply into the community's past, one that Daly was absent from for many years after being effectively exiled to Glasgow as a youth following the murder of his father, he finds that he can't ignore his responsibilities and obligations as a man of the law to discover the truth, no matter how many feathers he ruffles along the way, and begins to uncover old secrets that threaten not only the lives of the people around him, but the stability of the peace process itself.
Quinn, himself born in Northern Ireland and a reporter on his home turf of County Tyrone, creates a haunting and claustrophobic stage, among the broken down cottages, the eternally babbling streams and the heavy rain and rolling mists that shroud the lough that is a pivotal and central character of the book, upon which the players in this noir tale of subterfuge, deception and death are effectively brought to life.
There are no black and white personas here. Everybody, just like the lough itself, is a murky composite of secrets, demons and ulterior motives and Quinn expertly uses this to great effect, a literary puppet master who manipulates the reader with as much finesse and expertise as the Special Branch wranglers manage their past informants. A modern take on the noir thriller, Disappeared is as dark as a pint of Guinness and every bit as satisfying, and with this debut Quinn has marked himself as an author to watch.
Disappeared will be published as an eBook on 24th July by Mysterious Press, a newly launched imprint of Open Road, but a name with a long history of promoting classic authors like Isaac Asimov, Raymond Chandler and John Le Carre. Originally founded in 1975 by acclaimed editor Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Press dealt exclusively with mystery and crime fiction and was the first publishing house to introduce many of today's revered crime writers to America, a tradition it now hopes to carry on in the digital publishing world.
It against this backdrop of a post-Troubles Northern Ireland that Disappeared, the debut novel by author Anthony Quinn is set. When Inspector Celcius Daly is called to investigate the horrific murder of Joseph Devine, a former informer found tied up, burned and mutilated on a small island following a tip off to his priest, he makes a connection between this crime and the disappearance of a Special Branch detective and realises that the two incidents could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Warned away from digging too deeply into the community's past, one that Daly was absent from for many years after being effectively exiled to Glasgow as a youth following the murder of his father, he finds that he can't ignore his responsibilities and obligations as a man of the law to discover the truth, no matter how many feathers he ruffles along the way, and begins to uncover old secrets that threaten not only the lives of the people around him, but the stability of the peace process itself.
Quinn, himself born in Northern Ireland and a reporter on his home turf of County Tyrone, creates a haunting and claustrophobic stage, among the broken down cottages, the eternally babbling streams and the heavy rain and rolling mists that shroud the lough that is a pivotal and central character of the book, upon which the players in this noir tale of subterfuge, deception and death are effectively brought to life.
There are no black and white personas here. Everybody, just like the lough itself, is a murky composite of secrets, demons and ulterior motives and Quinn expertly uses this to great effect, a literary puppet master who manipulates the reader with as much finesse and expertise as the Special Branch wranglers manage their past informants. A modern take on the noir thriller, Disappeared is as dark as a pint of Guinness and every bit as satisfying, and with this debut Quinn has marked himself as an author to watch.
Disappeared will be published as an eBook on 24th July by Mysterious Press, a newly launched imprint of Open Road, but a name with a long history of promoting classic authors like Isaac Asimov, Raymond Chandler and John Le Carre. Originally founded in 1975 by acclaimed editor Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Press dealt exclusively with mystery and crime fiction and was the first publishing house to introduce many of today's revered crime writers to America, a tradition it now hopes to carry on in the digital publishing world.
September 22, 2014
Something I've been wanting to read a lot more of recently is crime fiction set in Northern Ireland as I was planning a trip there recently and rather than look for guide books of the area chose to seek out crime fiction instead. I was excited to read this book after reading its blurb and started it not long after it was posted through my letterbox. Thanks to Head of Zeus for the copy! Expectations were high and I wasn't left disappointed, but very eager to read book two, Border Angels.
Our main character Inspector Celcius Daly is back in Northern Ireland and on the case of a missing man with dementia who has disappeared from his remote home. Meanwhile an ex-intelligence officer is tortured to death with his obituary being printed in the local paper before his death. A son wants vengeance against those that killed his father. And a killer is stalking the outskirts of Belfast. Daly wants answers. For me I always like the characters that go against the advice they are given. Here Daly faces a wall of silence from pretty much everybody. Advised to leave the case well alone, it is clear that that is not something he is willing to do. With secrecy from all sides it certainly makes for a gripping read.
What has always interested me in novels set in Northern Ireland is the religious conflict and tension between the differing religions. As Daly is a Catholic detective in a Protestant nation that definitely left room for lots of tension. Anthony Quinn teaches the reader yet it's in a subtle way where you take it in without feeling like it's a history lesson in school. This is a book to savour, to take in every word that you are reading. It is emotional in parts and definitely leaves an impression. It is a book I won't forget in a hurry. For someone who doesn't know a lot about that time I'm constantly learning more with each book I read about the Troubles and despite an often uncomfortable at times read they are often stories that need to be read for future generations to be educated.
It was clear from the beginning that Anthony Quinn knows what he's talking about, helping to make the book all the more authentic and a lot more enjoyable than if it was in the hands of an amateur. I love nothing more than discovering new (to me) authors and Anthony Quinn is definitely one that will be staying on my radar, and one who I will be hoping to read more books from in the immediate future.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for the review copy.
Our main character Inspector Celcius Daly is back in Northern Ireland and on the case of a missing man with dementia who has disappeared from his remote home. Meanwhile an ex-intelligence officer is tortured to death with his obituary being printed in the local paper before his death. A son wants vengeance against those that killed his father. And a killer is stalking the outskirts of Belfast. Daly wants answers. For me I always like the characters that go against the advice they are given. Here Daly faces a wall of silence from pretty much everybody. Advised to leave the case well alone, it is clear that that is not something he is willing to do. With secrecy from all sides it certainly makes for a gripping read.
What has always interested me in novels set in Northern Ireland is the religious conflict and tension between the differing religions. As Daly is a Catholic detective in a Protestant nation that definitely left room for lots of tension. Anthony Quinn teaches the reader yet it's in a subtle way where you take it in without feeling like it's a history lesson in school. This is a book to savour, to take in every word that you are reading. It is emotional in parts and definitely leaves an impression. It is a book I won't forget in a hurry. For someone who doesn't know a lot about that time I'm constantly learning more with each book I read about the Troubles and despite an often uncomfortable at times read they are often stories that need to be read for future generations to be educated.
It was clear from the beginning that Anthony Quinn knows what he's talking about, helping to make the book all the more authentic and a lot more enjoyable than if it was in the hands of an amateur. I love nothing more than discovering new (to me) authors and Anthony Quinn is definitely one that will be staying on my radar, and one who I will be hoping to read more books from in the immediate future.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for the review copy.
July 25, 2012
Celcius Daly is the detective in this novel. Although he is from Northern Ireland, he had been working in Glasgow until some time before Disappeared starts. He is an outsider to all the events in recent History, as he doesn’t seem to have been involved in any, although we later learn that he was involved during his childhood. He just wants to solve the crime and is not scared of reopening older cases. This doesn’t get him many friends because there are many people who want to leave the investigation unfinished.
The book was good, but at some points I found it a bit confusing. I wasn’t really sure on which side some characters were. This is probably the idea; to confuse the reader because some people are not who they seem to be. I think my main problem was that although I had some basic knowledge of the History of Northern Ireland, there were some things that I had to look up to fully understand everything the characters were saying, so I may have missed or misunderstood something important at the beginning that would have made the reading much easier. Once some things start to clear up, everything is easier to understand.
The plot is very interesting and well thought. The disappearance of the Special Branch agent and the murder are linked in a way I hadn’t predicted to things that had happened years earlier and everything is more complicated than political ideas. Saying much about it would be revealing too many spoilers though.
The book was good, but at some points I found it a bit confusing. I wasn’t really sure on which side some characters were. This is probably the idea; to confuse the reader because some people are not who they seem to be. I think my main problem was that although I had some basic knowledge of the History of Northern Ireland, there were some things that I had to look up to fully understand everything the characters were saying, so I may have missed or misunderstood something important at the beginning that would have made the reading much easier. Once some things start to clear up, everything is easier to understand.
The plot is very interesting and well thought. The disappearance of the Special Branch agent and the murder are linked in a way I hadn’t predicted to things that had happened years earlier and everything is more complicated than political ideas. Saying much about it would be revealing too many spoilers though.
February 17, 2016
Disappointing
This book just didn't work. Whilst the author can write some very good descriptive passages the rest of the book floundered. The plot was fairly shambolic and the characterisation was poor, you felt no empathy for any of the characters. At the end I was left wondering what the whole story was about. I know that in fiction you have to suspend disbelief and good authors can do this but it didn't happen in this case. We are meant to believe that a teenager and a seventy year old suffering from Alzheimer's can outwit the police and republican paramilitaries, remain hidden but yet still travel around various locations that are only a few miles apart. Also the the lead character would allow the son of victim to follow him around on job experience without clearing that with his superiors, I mean this is barely post ceasefire and as far as I'm aware the PSNI, like every other police force would have procedures for this. Then if that was not enough he interviews the former lead detective in the investigation of the death of the teenagers father with the teenager not only present but also participating and asking questions. There were other glaring plot holes but I'm not going to go into them. Coming from Northern Ireland like the author I wanted to like this but unfortunately I am unable to recommend this book. If you want to read detective books about Northern Ireland you should look elsewhere.
This book just didn't work. Whilst the author can write some very good descriptive passages the rest of the book floundered. The plot was fairly shambolic and the characterisation was poor, you felt no empathy for any of the characters. At the end I was left wondering what the whole story was about. I know that in fiction you have to suspend disbelief and good authors can do this but it didn't happen in this case. We are meant to believe that a teenager and a seventy year old suffering from Alzheimer's can outwit the police and republican paramilitaries, remain hidden but yet still travel around various locations that are only a few miles apart. Also the the lead character would allow the son of victim to follow him around on job experience without clearing that with his superiors, I mean this is barely post ceasefire and as far as I'm aware the PSNI, like every other police force would have procedures for this. Then if that was not enough he interviews the former lead detective in the investigation of the death of the teenagers father with the teenager not only present but also participating and asking questions. There were other glaring plot holes but I'm not going to go into them. Coming from Northern Ireland like the author I wanted to like this but unfortunately I am unable to recommend this book. If you want to read detective books about Northern Ireland you should look elsewhere.
January 10, 2017
If one requires a shining example of location playing a key character in a story-line, look no further than multiple-book author, Anthony J. Quinn. This talented northern Irish noir writer absorbs a landscape with a painter’s eye and recreates it vividly with his pen. No better examples of this than in his debut novel, ‘Disappeared.’ Whether it be the sky “above the water filled with slow-moving clouds carrying their weight of winter visitors, geese from Siberia, whooper swans from Canada’ or a mist ‘beginning to swill in from the lough, sprawling over the rocks and tangled branches of the storm beach, distorting and dismembering everything that lay within its reach,’ Quinn’s descriptions are pregnant with meaning, often foreboding, at other times enlightening, but always teasing, tantalizing you to read on and find out more. And that’s just the landscape. If you also enjoy suspense, surprises, perhaps even shock, all created with a subtle, sophisticated, multi-layered touch – in culinary terms, filo-based – then you’re in for a literary treat. And plenty of choice from the hand of this experienced author to boot, including ‘Border Angels,’ ‘’The Blood-Dimmed Tide,’ ‘Blind Arrows’ and his latest work, ‘Silence.’
November 3, 2012
Move over everyone, there’s a new author in town and his name is Anthony Quinn. Mr. Quinn has written a smart, tightly woven mystery. Along with this, Mr. Quinn writing is beautiful - lyrical and descriptive. When you read this book, take my advice. Do NOT - skim, skip, fast forward or in any way miss out on the details.
I really like the main character, Detective Celcius Daly. He is driven to solve both a new and old murder, along with a disappearance no matter how many threats he receives telling him to stop.
This is Mr. Quinn’s first novel. Welcome to America, Mr. Quinn. I am glad your book made it across the pond and I look forward to future books.
I tip my hat to Netgalley and Open Road for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: July 24, 2012.
I really like the main character, Detective Celcius Daly. He is driven to solve both a new and old murder, along with a disappearance no matter how many threats he receives telling him to stop.
This is Mr. Quinn’s first novel. Welcome to America, Mr. Quinn. I am glad your book made it across the pond and I look forward to future books.
I tip my hat to Netgalley and Open Road for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: July 24, 2012.
July 9, 2012
Contrary to first appearances, Ireland provides the perfect setting for a crime novel – lush forests, small towns, rain, and homey pubs -- but with a violent history. Daly, a Catholic living among Protestants, is himself a representation of a divided nation, as well as man divided between gentleness and violence.
First novels seldom show up as confident and mature as Anthony Quinn's Disappeared. This novel of terror and a man seemingly brought back from the dead is an enthralling work of fiction by a powerful new voice.
First novels seldom show up as confident and mature as Anthony Quinn's Disappeared. This novel of terror and a man seemingly brought back from the dead is an enthralling work of fiction by a powerful new voice.
August 6, 2012
I felt as though I experienced every scene that Anthony Quinn described in this book, it is so eerily detailed. A brilliant read!
March 22, 2014
The premise for Disappeared is a compelling one: what happens to secrets, informers and controllers when a dirty war ends and a peace process unfolds? What happens to families who are tainted by lies, deception and compromises, who want to know the truth about their loved one’s death and to recover the body for formal burial? And what would be the consequences of key players seeking atonement for past actions or breaking their silence to reveal damaging truths? Quinn places the reader in modern day Armagh and the coastline of Lough Neagh to explore these questions, showing how wars never really end, but tail away in a set of ugly cover-ups and revisionist history making. It takes a few pages for the plot to find a sure path, but then the story unfolds through a compelling narrative. This is aided by just the right mix of characters with suitable back stories, and some nice interchanges as they dance around each other, all seeking a satisfactory resolution, but not one they share. The characterisation of Hughes, with his developing Alzheimer’s, Inspector Daly, and Dermot Jordan, the son of an IRA member murdered for being a suspected informer, are particularly nicely done. Throughout, Quinn evokes a strong sense of place and history. Overall, a thoughtful and engaging read. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
November 2, 2012
Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/PLMK0a
My rating: 4.5 Stars
My opinion: This book was recommended to me by another Netgalley reviewer and I am thrilled it was. Being of Irish descent, I have always been fascinated by books set in Ireland, but also of the IRA. This book fed into both of those interests of mine. To boot, it was just great writing. The story opened slowly like an oyster holding onto a pearl. The characters were as vivid as looking at a photograph with multiple layers and dimensions that a reader feels that they know them as well as a friend. Finally, the author was able to do a whopper of a twist that left me with a "WOW..didn't see that coming!" moment, which I love when books can do that!
I do agree with my buddy who recommended it. DO NOT SKIM THIS BOOK...YOU WILL MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT MOMENTS!
My rating: 4.5 Stars
My opinion: This book was recommended to me by another Netgalley reviewer and I am thrilled it was. Being of Irish descent, I have always been fascinated by books set in Ireland, but also of the IRA. This book fed into both of those interests of mine. To boot, it was just great writing. The story opened slowly like an oyster holding onto a pearl. The characters were as vivid as looking at a photograph with multiple layers and dimensions that a reader feels that they know them as well as a friend. Finally, the author was able to do a whopper of a twist that left me with a "WOW..didn't see that coming!" moment, which I love when books can do that!
I do agree with my buddy who recommended it. DO NOT SKIM THIS BOOK...YOU WILL MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT MOMENTS!
July 20, 2017
Inspector Celcius Daly has been transferred back to Northern Ireland – to rural County Armagh- from Scotland and is faced with a murder and the disappearance of an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The descriptions of the area around Lough Neagh which form the backdrop to the story could only have been provided by a writer who knows the area intimately and lovingly, and Celcius Daly is an interesting character dropped into a complicated situation. But this is a difficult plot for the opening Inspector Daly investigation. The fallout from the role of informers and their handlers still in evidence ‘post troubles’ is complex and never going to end well. There are times when this feels long, and then it’s suddenly over.
After all that, I’m happy to give Celcius Daly another go
The descriptions of the area around Lough Neagh which form the backdrop to the story could only have been provided by a writer who knows the area intimately and lovingly, and Celcius Daly is an interesting character dropped into a complicated situation. But this is a difficult plot for the opening Inspector Daly investigation. The fallout from the role of informers and their handlers still in evidence ‘post troubles’ is complex and never going to end well. There are times when this feels long, and then it’s suddenly over.
After all that, I’m happy to give Celcius Daly another go
October 21, 2012
Fear, guilt, and revenge stirs Anthony Quinn’s Disappeared as his
Catholic detective in Protestant Northern Ireland searches for a
missing former IRA informer in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, a
pyromaniac teenager looking for his murdered father’s grave,
and a pro-Protestant Special Forces group looking to cover up
the misdeeds of a turbulent past.
Disappeared is a significant novel, a mix of the past Troubles,
that violence between Protestant and Catholic, tragedy,
and dark mystery: an absorbing, page turning read.
Catholic detective in Protestant Northern Ireland searches for a
missing former IRA informer in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, a
pyromaniac teenager looking for his murdered father’s grave,
and a pro-Protestant Special Forces group looking to cover up
the misdeeds of a turbulent past.
Disappeared is a significant novel, a mix of the past Troubles,
that violence between Protestant and Catholic, tragedy,
and dark mystery: an absorbing, page turning read.
July 20, 2015
Another entry in the Norn Iron noir category, which it appears I can't get enough of. Atmospheric and bleak, it more than matches the mood of its topic, which is how people live in the aftermath of the Troubles, with what they know and what they've done. My full review is HERE
March 23, 2013
A must read! It is thrilling, engaging and edge of seat/bed reading! This books delves into the dark past of the troubles in Ireland yet is written in such a way that it would appeal to all crime readers around the globe! Great job Quinn- I know Celcius is good but make sure you don't disappear as I want to read more of your work!!
August 30, 2014
This review is also available on my tumblr.
I got this book from the First Reads scheme. Thank You for giving me this opportunity
This is what a crime novel should be. Every page was filled with intrigue. Every character perfectly fractured and very very interesting. No-one was boring and everything was incredible. Gripping until the end. Worth every minute
5/5
I got this book from the First Reads scheme. Thank You for giving me this opportunity
This is what a crime novel should be. Every page was filled with intrigue. Every character perfectly fractured and very very interesting. No-one was boring and everything was incredible. Gripping until the end. Worth every minute
5/5
February 13, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I found it very compelling and could not put it down. Although set in Ireland and referring to the past, it was set after all the troubles there and did not dwell on rights and wrongs, more the thoughts of people involved and how it affected them. It appeared to be left open at the end for a follow on which I hope is on the cards?
September 7, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
An excellent read. The main character, Celsius Daly, isn’t your usual type of detective. The plot is strong and original, writing is compelling. Very enjoyable, and highly recommended.
An excellent read. The main character, Celsius Daly, isn’t your usual type of detective. The plot is strong and original, writing is compelling. Very enjoyable, and highly recommended.
March 23, 2013
A riveting read with a well-constructed plot, powerfully written prose and a mesmerising landscape. I agree with other Goodreads reviewers who have recommended this book. DO NOT SKIM THIS BOOK...YOU WILL MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT MOMENTS!
January 3, 2016
Fantastic mystery. Very descriptive of the back areas of Northern Ireland. The writer is a journalist and his attention to detail is evident. This is his first book. Nice guy also, I've talked to him on Twitter.
February 8, 2015
Good read , good setting, really enjoyed
February 5, 2017
3.5 stars
January 1, 2019
This book was published in 2012, putting Quinn between Stuart Neville and Adrian McKinty is coming out with crime novels set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Quinn wasn't even on my radar until I came across this book a few months ago. When I was at a reading by Adrian McKinty at No Alibis Bookstore in Belfast in July, 2016, the shop owner David Torrence pointed out books by the only two women writing crime novels in Northern Ireland. As the shop specializes in crime fiction, it's the place to find crime books by Northern Irish writers. Perhaps Quinn's books were there, but I noticed they were published in the US and only recently in London.
The Inspector Celcius Daly series is set in County Armagh, a place notorious for assassinations and murders during the Troubles. The plot revolves around the kidnapping of an elderly man with dementia, a father who disappeared during the Troubles and was assumed to be assassinated by the IRA, and former paramilitaries in their twilight years. This was a convoluted story that was often hard to follow. I am very familiar with the history of the Troubles, and the cast of characters. The setting in Armagh and near Lough Neagh was also familiar. Nonetheless, at times I got lost and at other times the story lacked momentum. There were many examples of overwritten prose, but just take my word for it, as I don't have the energy to copy it.
I might read the next book if I can get it at a bargain price or my library. I am interested in Northern Irish crime fiction but McKinty, Neville, and Claire McGowan outshine Quinn. I also really like Brian McGilloway's crime novels set on the Derry/Donegal border.
The Inspector Celcius Daly series is set in County Armagh, a place notorious for assassinations and murders during the Troubles. The plot revolves around the kidnapping of an elderly man with dementia, a father who disappeared during the Troubles and was assumed to be assassinated by the IRA, and former paramilitaries in their twilight years. This was a convoluted story that was often hard to follow. I am very familiar with the history of the Troubles, and the cast of characters. The setting in Armagh and near Lough Neagh was also familiar. Nonetheless, at times I got lost and at other times the story lacked momentum. There were many examples of overwritten prose, but just take my word for it, as I don't have the energy to copy it.
I might read the next book if I can get it at a bargain price or my library. I am interested in Northern Irish crime fiction but McKinty, Neville, and Claire McGowan outshine Quinn. I also really like Brian McGilloway's crime novels set on the Derry/Donegal border.
February 24, 2015
Much has been made of the 'Nordy Noir' crime fiction genre recently, with Adrian McKinty, Staurt Neville and Brian McGilloway amongst others leading the way in their writing featuring the 'darker' elements of life in NI. It was through an Irish Times article that I heard about this book, and hoped that it would be as entertaining as the first two writers I mentioned, who may ham it up a bit but have semi believable plots and an accurate eye for the setting they are writing about. This book had neither. I know that it's part of a series, but I'm out!
March 23, 2013
! very much enjoyed this very exciting, well-plotted story, told by an author with a strong awareness of the local scenery in this unusual setting. It was very atmospheric and the characters are richly drawn. I read it very quickly, as it's one of the best, first books of a British author, I've read in quite a long time. I understand that the author, who works as a journalist is currently preparing a sequel to DISAPPEARED and I hope that I get a chance to review it also. Well recommended.
March 7, 2015
The premise was interesting but the execution of it was tedious. Celcius Daly is not much of an Inspector, frankly. I found myself wanting to urge him on: "That was a CLUE. Go after it!" Atmospheric, but no real suspense. Adrian McKinty's Troubles series is much better. And Stuart Neville's "The Ghosts of Belfast" is flat outstanding.
December 26, 2017
Um interessante detetive da Irlanda do Norte
Disappeared , primeiro romance de Anthony Quinn, de 2012, foi bem recebidíssmo pela crítica.
O título faz referência a algo que ocorria durante os “Troubles”, os conflitos armados do século XX na Irlanda do Norte: o desaparecimento de pessoas, “The disappeared”, sequestradas, mortas e nunca mais vistas. Destas, alguns corpos foram localizados depois dos acordos de paz, e é este um dos temas do livro: um desaparecido cujo corpo nunca fora localizado, e cujo filho tenta encontrar. Mas também a maneira como a sociedade se adapta aos novos tempos, tentando conviver com as marcas deixadas pelo passado. Os conflitos entre antigos oponentes ainda permanecem latentes e por vezes se manifestam com violência, como na tortura e morte de um ex-oficial de inteligência. Na Irlanda do Norte, o passado não ficou para trás.
A própria polícia está em reorganização: o antigo RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), substituído em 2001 pelo PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), objetivando passar de uma força de conflito para uma polícia de fato. É neste contexto que surge o Inspetor Celcius Daly, um detetive católico em um país protestante, um quase anti-herói, com juízos duvidosos.
Disappeared se passa às margens do Loch Neagh (o maior lago do Reino Unido), onde também mora o Inspetor Daly, na antiga casa de seu pai, para onde se mudou depois de se separar da mulher. Como sempre, é muito interessante ler uma história passada em um lugar que não conhecemos, e que também vamos descobrir ao longo do livro.
É divertido, enquanto se lê, encontrar os lugares em um mapa impresso, em um guia, ou em mapas online como o Google Maps.
Anthony Quinn é um autor e jornalista irlandês. Nascido no Condado Tyrone (ao lado do de Armagh), na Irlanda do Norte, graduou-se em Inglês na Queen’s University, em Belfast. Este seu primeiro romance, Disappeared , foi publicado pela Mysterious Press, de Otto Penzler, nos EUA, em 2012, e escolhido pela Kirkus Reviews como um dos dez melhores thrillers daquele ano. O autor já foi finalista em alguns prêmios literários, como o “Strand Critics Debut Novel Award” de 2012, em que Disappeared ficou entre os cinco melhores escolhidos por críticos literários de Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN e The Guardian. Uma estreia e tanto. O autor se firmou e a série já está no quarto volume, que sairá em formato impresso em 2017, assim como os anteriores já saíram, depois de publicados primeiro como e-book Kindle.
Esta resenha foi feita a partir da edição em formato Kindle (ASIN B0089LOL2K)
Referências
> Autor: Anthony J. Quinn (1961 –)
> Publicação:
- - Primeira publicação: janeiro / 2012
- - Edição Kindle: 24/julho/2012, pela Mysterious Press / Open Road, nos EUA
1. Site do autor
Faça uma busca por anthonyjquinnwriter [ponto] com
Com boas informações, mas não muito atualizado. Em março de 2017 ainda não havia nada sobre o quarto livro da série, “Trespass”, lançado em novembro de 2106. Não obstante, tem muitas referências e links para matérias sobre seus livros e seu trabalho como escritor, como as três a seguir, com trechos traduzidos de lá.
“Embora eu seja um escritor do gênero policial, meu verdadeiro interesse está em promover uma imersão de meus leitores na paisagem da Irlanda do Norte, na geografia do país e seu clima, bem como nas paisagens interiores das pessoas que a habitam.
A paisagem de Tyrone que conheço e amo tem sua própria geografia de estados de espírito, um entrelaçar de escuridão e luz, que considero sempre hipnotizante. Gostaria de inspirar os participantes de oficinas de escrita criativa a perceber que a paisagem que habitam, seja rural ou urbana, é muito mais que geografia. É uma parte de nossa identidade coletiva. É também uma janela para o interior da alma de nosso país e de nossa história problemática.”
– Anthony Quinn, sobre oficinas que ministrou
“Uma abordagem altamente original de um tópico muito percorrido. Escreve com uma elegância melancólica, e nos convence de que os ‘Troubles’ nunca acabam.”
– The Times Books of the Year
“‘Disappeared’, escrito com beleza, é muito mais que um mistério policial rotineiro, pois expõe inflexivelmente a sociedade da Irlanda do Norte enquanto esta tenta chegar a um acordo com seu passado violento. Excepcional.”
– The Irish Independent
A série de Celcius Daly em inglês
Já são quatro livros, escritos ao longo dos últimos cinco anos. Por enquanto, disponíveis só em inglês.
Ordem de publicação, (ano de publicação original), título em inglês, (informação sobre a série)
1. (2012) Disappeared (The Inspector Celcius Daly Mysteries) ***[K] *** R
2. (2013) Border Angels (Inspector Celcius Daly) ***[K] *** R
3. (2015) Silence (Inspector Celcius Daly Book 3) ***[K]
4. (2016) Trespass (Inspector Celcius Daly Book 4) ***[K]
>>> ***[K] – Todos os quatro títulos em inglês estão disponíveis em e-book Kindle na Amazon brasileira. Porém, somente os dois primeiros em formato impresso, em capa comum (em março / 2017).
>>> *** R – Livros já resenhados por mim. Para ler minha resenha, role a página do livro até que ela apareça.
Em livros com muitas resenhas, pode ser necessário clicar em “Veja todas as avaliações do cliente (mais recente primeiro)” e depois rolar.
Disappeared , primeiro romance de Anthony Quinn, de 2012, foi bem recebidíssmo pela crítica.
O título faz referência a algo que ocorria durante os “Troubles”, os conflitos armados do século XX na Irlanda do Norte: o desaparecimento de pessoas, “The disappeared”, sequestradas, mortas e nunca mais vistas. Destas, alguns corpos foram localizados depois dos acordos de paz, e é este um dos temas do livro: um desaparecido cujo corpo nunca fora localizado, e cujo filho tenta encontrar. Mas também a maneira como a sociedade se adapta aos novos tempos, tentando conviver com as marcas deixadas pelo passado. Os conflitos entre antigos oponentes ainda permanecem latentes e por vezes se manifestam com violência, como na tortura e morte de um ex-oficial de inteligência. Na Irlanda do Norte, o passado não ficou para trás.
A própria polícia está em reorganização: o antigo RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), substituído em 2001 pelo PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), objetivando passar de uma força de conflito para uma polícia de fato. É neste contexto que surge o Inspetor Celcius Daly, um detetive católico em um país protestante, um quase anti-herói, com juízos duvidosos.
Disappeared se passa às margens do Loch Neagh (o maior lago do Reino Unido), onde também mora o Inspetor Daly, na antiga casa de seu pai, para onde se mudou depois de se separar da mulher. Como sempre, é muito interessante ler uma história passada em um lugar que não conhecemos, e que também vamos descobrir ao longo do livro.
É divertido, enquanto se lê, encontrar os lugares em um mapa impresso, em um guia, ou em mapas online como o Google Maps.
Anthony Quinn é um autor e jornalista irlandês. Nascido no Condado Tyrone (ao lado do de Armagh), na Irlanda do Norte, graduou-se em Inglês na Queen’s University, em Belfast. Este seu primeiro romance, Disappeared , foi publicado pela Mysterious Press, de Otto Penzler, nos EUA, em 2012, e escolhido pela Kirkus Reviews como um dos dez melhores thrillers daquele ano. O autor já foi finalista em alguns prêmios literários, como o “Strand Critics Debut Novel Award” de 2012, em que Disappeared ficou entre os cinco melhores escolhidos por críticos literários de Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN e The Guardian. Uma estreia e tanto. O autor se firmou e a série já está no quarto volume, que sairá em formato impresso em 2017, assim como os anteriores já saíram, depois de publicados primeiro como e-book Kindle.
Esta resenha foi feita a partir da edição em formato Kindle (ASIN B0089LOL2K)
Referências
> Autor: Anthony J. Quinn (1961 –)
> Publicação:
- - Primeira publicação: janeiro / 2012
- - Edição Kindle: 24/julho/2012, pela Mysterious Press / Open Road, nos EUA
1. Site do autor
Faça uma busca por anthonyjquinnwriter [ponto] com
Com boas informações, mas não muito atualizado. Em março de 2017 ainda não havia nada sobre o quarto livro da série, “Trespass”, lançado em novembro de 2106. Não obstante, tem muitas referências e links para matérias sobre seus livros e seu trabalho como escritor, como as três a seguir, com trechos traduzidos de lá.
“Embora eu seja um escritor do gênero policial, meu verdadeiro interesse está em promover uma imersão de meus leitores na paisagem da Irlanda do Norte, na geografia do país e seu clima, bem como nas paisagens interiores das pessoas que a habitam.
A paisagem de Tyrone que conheço e amo tem sua própria geografia de estados de espírito, um entrelaçar de escuridão e luz, que considero sempre hipnotizante. Gostaria de inspirar os participantes de oficinas de escrita criativa a perceber que a paisagem que habitam, seja rural ou urbana, é muito mais que geografia. É uma parte de nossa identidade coletiva. É também uma janela para o interior da alma de nosso país e de nossa história problemática.”
– Anthony Quinn, sobre oficinas que ministrou
“Uma abordagem altamente original de um tópico muito percorrido. Escreve com uma elegância melancólica, e nos convence de que os ‘Troubles’ nunca acabam.”
– The Times Books of the Year
“‘Disappeared’, escrito com beleza, é muito mais que um mistério policial rotineiro, pois expõe inflexivelmente a sociedade da Irlanda do Norte enquanto esta tenta chegar a um acordo com seu passado violento. Excepcional.”
– The Irish Independent
A série de Celcius Daly em inglês
Já são quatro livros, escritos ao longo dos últimos cinco anos. Por enquanto, disponíveis só em inglês.
Ordem de publicação, (ano de publicação original), título em inglês, (informação sobre a série)
1. (2012) Disappeared (The Inspector Celcius Daly Mysteries) ***[K] *** R
2. (2013) Border Angels (Inspector Celcius Daly) ***[K] *** R
3. (2015) Silence (Inspector Celcius Daly Book 3) ***[K]
4. (2016) Trespass (Inspector Celcius Daly Book 4) ***[K]
>>> ***[K] – Todos os quatro títulos em inglês estão disponíveis em e-book Kindle na Amazon brasileira. Porém, somente os dois primeiros em formato impresso, em capa comum (em março / 2017).
>>> *** R – Livros já resenhados por mim. Para ler minha resenha, role a página do livro até que ela apareça.
Em livros com muitas resenhas, pode ser necessário clicar em “Veja todas as avaliações do cliente (mais recente primeiro)” e depois rolar.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews